The PDP-Laban party’s membership in the House of Representatives has swelled to more than 120 lawmakers from the original three, including Alvarez.

Meanwhile, the latest exodus diminished the number of LP members in the lower chamber to 27.

In a statement, LP President and Senator Francis Pangilinan said the “benefits of being part of the good graces of Malacañang were hard to resist” and wished the former members well.

Pangilinan said the once ruling party “has been at the crosshairs” of the Duterte administration and has suffered “enormous challenges” both internally and externally.

“Since then, the party has been in the process of reflection, reconnecting, and redefining -- crucial requisites to rebuilding. In the face of unprovoked, relentless, and baseless attacks against the party and its leaders, these processes are expectedly rough and tough,” he said.

“After six months in the LP leadership, we soldier on, taking on the challenges and holding on only to this: that we as a people are what the rest of the world know about us: generous and forgiving, welcoming and loving, not prone to violence or ruthlessness,” he added. (Filane Mikee Cervantes/PNA)